Synthesis and anti-HIV evaluation of 2',3'-dideoxy imidazo- and nu-triazolo[4,5-d]pyridazine nucleosides

The syntheses of the 2'-deoxy and 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides of 2,8-diaza-3-deazainosine and the 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside of 2-aza-3-deazainosine were achieved and the pathways leading to these novel nucleosides are described. The preparation of the 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside (1) of 2-aza-3-deazainosine involved deoxygenation of the 2'-deoxy-3'-imidazolide intermediate with n-Bu3SnH and AlBN. The latter nucleoside was synthesized from the known 2'-deoxy derivative of 2-aza-3-deazainosine. The three-step synthesis of 1 from the 2'-deoxy analogue was accomplished in 40% overall yield. Rather than synthesize the corresponding 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside (2) of 2,8-diaza-3-deazainosine in the same manner, i.e. deoxygenation of the 2'-deoxynucleoside, a more cost-effective route was chosen. This pathway involved reductive cleavage of the 5'-protected, 2',3'-thiocarbonate derivative to furnish a mixture of the 2'- and 3'-deoxy isomers. This mixture was not separated, but was deoxygenated by the aforementioned imidazolide method. Using this methodology, 2 was prepared in 23% overall yield from 2,8-diaza-3-deazainosine. Nucleosides 1 and 2 were evaluated for antiretroviral activity and were found to be inactive.     

Telomere shortening in human HL60 cells by treatment with 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides and telomerase inhibition by their 5'-triphosphates

Telomerase is thought to play an important role in the mechanism of tumor cell immortalization by maintenance of telomere length. To obtain information on the susceptibility of telomerase to nucleoside analogues, the effects of base-modified 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxynucleoside triphosphates on the enzyme were investigated. It is suggested that the 2-amino group of the nucleotide purine nucleus is important for the inhibitory activity. Telomere shortening caused by long-term treatment with these nucleosides is also described.     

Synthesis and studies of 3'-C-trifluoromethyl nucleoside analogues bearing adenine or cytosine as the base

3'-Deoxy-3'-C-CF3, 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-C-CF3 and 2',3'-unsaturated-3'-C-CF3 nucleoside derivatives of adenosine and cytidine have been synthesized. All these derivatives were prepared by glycosylation of adenine and uracil with a suitable peracylated 3-trifluoromethyl sugar precursor. The resulting protected nucleosides were subject to appropriate chemical modifications to afford the target nucleoside derivatives. Additionally, the chemical stability in acidic and neutral media of the 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-C-CF3 and 2',3'-unsaturated-3'-C-CF3 nucleoside derivatives of adenosine was compared to that of their parent nucleosides 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine (ddA) and 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydroadenosine (d(4)A). Our results confirm that addition of a trifluoromethyl group at C-3' on such nucleoside derivatives appears to confer increased chemical stability toward acid-catalyzed cleavage of the glycosidic bond comparatively to their parent counterparts. When evaluated for their antiviral activity in cell culture experiments, two compounds, namely, 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-C-CF3-adenosine and 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydro-3'-C-CF3-cytidine exhibited moderate anti-HBV activity with EC50 values of 10 and 5 microM, respectively.     

Phosphoramidate protides of 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoroadenosine and related nucleosides with potent activity against HIV and HBV

Syntheses of phosphoramidate protides of several 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoroadenosine derivatives by treatment of the nucleoside with phosphorochloridates in the presence of pyridine and t-BuMgCl is described. Several of these protides showed significantly improved antiviral potency over the parent nucleoside against HIV and HBV. Especially marked was the improvement in potency of phosphoramidate protides of 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoroadenosine against both HIV and HBV.     

Formation of ribonucleotide 2'',3''-cyclic carbonates during conversion of ribonucleoside 5''-phosphates to diphosphates and triphosphates by the phosphorimidazolidate procedure.

Ribo- and 2'-deoxyribonucleoside 5'-di- or triphosphates are commonly synthesized by reaction of inorganic phosphate or pyrophosphate with phosphorimidazolidates obtained by reaction of nucleoside 5'-phosphates with 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole. The latter reaction, however, converted UMP, CMP, IMP, GMP, and AMP in high yield to the 2',3'-cyclic carbonate derivatives of their phosphorimidazolidates. Acidic treatment of the product from AMP gave AMP 2',3'-cyclic carbonate dihydrate; this was characterized by its uv, ir, and pmr spectra and by its conversion to adenosine 2',3'-cyclic carbonate by acid phosphatase and to AMP by basic hydrolysis. ADP or ATP synthesized by the phosphorimidazolidate method contained equal or greater amounts of their respective 2',3'-cyclic carbonates. The latter could be quantitatively converted to ADP and ATP, respectively, by 4-hr hydrolysis at pH 10.5, 22 degrees. ADP or ATP can be synthesized without concomitant 2',3'-cyclic carbonate formation by reaction of AMP with phosphorimidazolidates of inorganic phosphate or pyrophosphate.     

Synthesis of a novel aldehyde: 4-O-methyl-5-formylmethyl-2'-deoxyuridine

The synthesis of the blocked nucleoside 3',5'-di-O-p-toluoyl-4-O-methyl-5-formylmethyl-2'-deoxyuridine was accomplishied in eleven steps from gamma-butyrolactone. This aldehyde, which should facilitate the synthesis of nucleosides containing 18F. was converted to the corresponding blocked dithianyl nucleoside, and also to 5-(2,2-difluoroethyl)-substituted derivatives of 2'-deoxyuridine and 2'-deoxycytidine.     

Aryl nucleoside H-phosphonates. Part 15: Synthesis, properties and, anti-HIV activity of aryl nucleoside 5'-alpha-hydroxyphosphonates

Aryl nucleoside 5'-H-phosphonates 4 bearing AZT or 2',3'-dideoxyuridine moieties were subjected to reaction with various aromatic aldehydes to produce nucleoside 5'-alpha-hydroxyphosphonate derivatives 2 as potential anti-HIV agents. Stability of the title compounds in cell culture media was investigated and three distinct decomposition pathways were identified. The anti-HIV activity of hydroxyphosphonates 2 correlates well with the type and extent of their chemical or enzymatic degradation in culture medium (RPMI 1640 containing 10% FBS), suggesting that aryl nucleoside 5'-hydroxyphosphonates 2 act as depot forms of the parent antiviral nucleosides.     

Enzymatic synthesis of β-D-2', 3'-unsaturated-5-fluorocytidine from β-D-2',3'-unsaturated thymidine

We have used crude preparations of N-deoxyribosyl transferases (NdRT-II) from Lactobacillus helveticus to catalyze the transfer of a glycosyl moiety from a donor nucleoside to an acceptor base. Optimal conditions for the transglycosylation reaction to make D-D4FC starting from D-D4T and 5-FC were determined after the analysis of several experimental parameters including reaction time, concentration of substrate, pH and the type of buffer. For the first time, a practical procedure for enzymatic synthesis of β-D-2',3'-unsaturated-5-fluorocytidine (β-D-2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxy-5-fluorocytidine, D-D4FC) from β-D-2',3'-unsaturated thymidine (D-D4T) has been established. This method will be useful in the manufacture of important nucleoside analogues for anti-viral therapy.     

Synthesis of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroguanyl-(3',5')-guanosine

The protected analogue of 2-amnio-6-chloropurine arabinoside (3b) was subjected to reaction with diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST) and subsequently treated with NaOAc in Ac2O/AcOH to give N2, O3', O5'-triacetyl-2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroguanosine (5a). After deacetylation of the sugar moiety and protection of 5'-OH by a 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl group, this nucleoside component was converted to 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroguanyl-(3',5')-guanosine (6c, GfpG).     

2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 2'-phosphodiesterase from Fusarium culmorum

We describe the properties of a 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 2'-phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.16), found in Fusarium culmorum, which hydrolyzes nucleoside 2',3'-cyclic monophosphates to nucleoside 3'-phosphates. In contrast with a similar enzyme found in bacteria, the Fusarium enzyme does not exhibit nucleotidase activity and does not show a requirement for metal ions, but is inhibited by micromolar concentrations of Cu++ and Zn++, and is very stable to heat. This cyclic phosphodiesterase hydrolyzes the four major nucleoside 2',3'-cyclic monophosphates and has greater affinity for purine (Kms for Ado-2',3'-P = 0.3 mM and for Guo-2',3'-P = 0.1 mM) than for pyrimidine nucleotides (Kms for Cyd-2',3'-P = 0.6 mM and for Urd-2',3'-P = 2 mM). The respective Vmax for Urd-2',3'-P; Cyd-2',3'-P; Ado-2',3'-P; and Guo-2',3' are 100:45:16:5. The efficacy of the phosphodiesterase to hydrolyze the four major 2',3' cyclic nucleotides (based on the relative values of Vmax/Km) is not significantly different. The Fusarium enzyme differs from a previously described 2',3' cyclic phosphodiesterase from Neurospora, in that it is inactive on 3',5'-nucleoside monophosphates and nucleoside 2' or 3' phosphates.     

2'',3''-Dideoxy-3'' aminonucleoside 5''-triphosphates are the terminators of DNA synthesis catalyzed by DNA polymerases.

It is shown that 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-aminonucleoside 5'-triphosphates with adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine bases are effective inhibitors of DNA polymerase I, calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha and rat liver DNA polymerase beta. The effect of the above-mentioned compounds is markedly higher than corresponding action of the well-known DNA synthesis inhibitors arabinonucleoside 5'-triphosphates and 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphates. 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-aminonucleoside 5'-monophosphate residues incorporate into the 3'-terminus of the primer and terminate the DNA chain elongation. The possibility of using 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-aminonucleoside 5'-triphosphates as terminators for DNA sequencing by the polymerization method is demonstrated.     

The kinetics and specificity of the reaction of 2'(3')-O-bromoacetyluridine with bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A.

2'(3')-O-Bromoacetyluridine reacts rapidly and selectively with bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A at pH 5.5 and 25 degrees. Under conditions of high molar ratios of nucleoside derivative to enzyme, the only derivative is N-3-carboxymethylhistidine-12 ribonuclease A. The reaction occurs almost exclusively with the histidine-12 residue at the active site inactivation of the enzyme is accompanied by the stoichiometric disappearance of unmodified ribonuclease A and appearance of the product, N-3-carboxymethylhistidine-12 ribonuclease A. Kinetic studies indicate a mechanism involving saturation of the enzyme by the nucleoside derivative. The inhibitor constant, Kb, is 0.087 M and k3 is 35.1 times 10(-4) sec minus 1. The reaction of 2'(3')-O-bromoacetyluridine with the enzyme occurs at a rate approximately 3100 times greater than that corresponding to the reaction with L-histidine. The alkylation reaction is inhibited competitively by uridine with a Ki of 0.013 M. 2'(3')-O-Bromoacetyluridine inactivates ribonuclease A 4.5 times faster than bromoacetic acid and the specificity for alkylation of active-site histidine residues is different. 2'(3')-O-Bromoacetyluridine reacts 1000 times more rapidly with ribonuclease A than iodoacetamide. The contribution of nucleoside binding to the overall rate of alkylation is discussed.     

Difficulties in the deprotection of 1,2-ketals in nucleosides containing alkylidencarbazoyl groups

The synthesis of unprotected alkylidencarbazoyl nucleoside derivatives 8a-8d is shown. A direct deprotection route from readily available 2',3'-isopropylidene protected nucleosides 5a-5d. prepared from a chemoenzymatic procedure, did not give the selective cleavage of the ketal function without affecting the C=N bond. The next option tried was to look at the previous compound in the retrosynthetic route: 2',3'-protected carbazoyl nucleoside 4. However, in all cases we obtained unsatisfactory results. Stepping further back, the hydrolysis of compound 3a led us to unprotected carbonate nucleoside 9 in quantitative yield. With this compound available, the synthesis towards derivatives 8 was accomplished through a known procedure.     

Synthesis of D- and L-apio nucleoside analogues with 2'-hydroxyl group as potential anti-HIV agents

The present work describes the asymmetric synthesis of D- and L-apio-2',3'-dideoxynucleoside analogues, 4 and 5 with 2'-hydroxyl group via a common intermediate 9, starting from D-galactose. Stereoselective dihydroxylation and deoxygenation through radical inversion were successfully employed to synthesize the key intermediate 12 with D-apio structure, while stereoselecetive hydroboration-oxidation was used for the synthesis of another key intermediate 18 with L-apio structure.     

Preparation of 8,5'-O-cycloadenosine derivatives by reaction of 2',3'-O-isopropylideneadenosine with phenyl chloroformate or p-toluyl chloride

Reaction of 2',3'-O-isopropylideneadenosine with p-toluyl chloride in a mixture of methylene chloride and triethylamine afforded 2',3'-O-isopropylidene-N,N,5'-O-tri-p-toluyladenosine (8)(30%), 8,5'-O-cycloadenosine derivatives 9 (34%) and 10 (11%), and a cyanoimidazole nucleoside 11 (12%).     

Synthesis, protonation behavior, conformational analysis, and regioselective enzymatic acylation of the novel diamino analogue of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (BVDU)

(E)-3',5'-Diamino-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2',3',5'-trideoxyuridine (5), the diamino analogue of BVDU (1), was synthesized from BVDU. The protonation behavior of 5 has been studied by means of pH-metric measurements and NMR spectroscopy. This study allows the determination of the basicity constants and the stepwise protonation sites. Thus, the main species at physiological pH is the monoprotonated form. The conformational analysis of this nucleoside analogue was also carried out through 1H NMR spectroscopy. In addition, a convenient synthesis of N-3' and N-5' acylated derivatives was developed by regioselective enzymatic acylation. Thus, Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) selectively acylated the 5'-amino group, thus furnishing nucleosides 8. On the other hand, immobilized Pseudomonas cepacia lipase (PSL-C) exhibited the opposite selectivity, conferring acylation at the 3'-amino group, thus affording derivatives 9.     

Physical mapping of drug resistance mutations defines an active center of the herpes simplex virus DNA polymerase enzyme.

The genome structures of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)/HSV-2 intertypic recombinants have been previously determined by restriction endonuclease analysis, and these recombinants and their parental strains have been employed to demonstrate that mutations within the HSV DNA polymerase locus induce an altered HSV DNA polymerase activity, exhibiting resistance to three inhibitors of DNA polymerase. The viral DNA polymerases induced by two recombinants and their parental strains were purified and shown to possess similar molecular weights (142,000 to 144,000) and similar sensitivity to compounds which distinguish viral and cellular DNA polymerases. The HSV DNA polymerases induced by the resistant recombinant and the resistant parental strain were resistant to inhibition by phosphonoacetic acid, acycloguanosine triphosphate, and the 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside triphosphates. The resistant recombinant (R6-34) induced as much acycloguanosine triphosphate as did the sensitive recombinant (R6-26), but viral DNA synthesis in infected cells and the viral DNA polymerase activity were not inhibited. The 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside-triphosphates were effective competitive inhibitors for the HSV DNA polymerase, and the Ki values for the four 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside triphosphates were determined for the four viral DNA polymerases. The polymerases of the resistant recombinant and the resistant parent possessed a much higher Ki for the 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside triphosphates and for phosphonoacetic acid than did the sensitive strains. A 1.3-kilobase-pair region of HSV-1 DNA within the HSV DNA polymerase locus contained mutations which conferred resistance to three DNA polymerase inhibitors. This region of DNA sequences encoded for an amino acid sequence of 42,000 molecular weight and defined an active center of the HSV DNA polymerase enzyme.